Supervisory system fr sprinkler-valves.



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SUPERVISORY SYSTEM FOR SPRINKLER VALVES APPLICATION FILED FEB'. a. 1915.

1,153,578. Patented 11,1915.

2 SH S-SHEET I.

'w. A. ROGERS & MCREA'PARKER,

SUPERVISORY SYSTEM FOR SPRINKLER VALVES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 6. 1915..

1,153,573. I PatentedSept'M, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

To all whom it may conc'ewi "UNITED STATES PATENT oi FIo WILLIAM A. ROGERS Am) Manna PARKER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT CIT-COLUMBIA,

' ASSIGNORS T W. G. CORNELL COMPANY, or NEW YORK; N. Y., A COBPORATI01:T0\'

:NEW YORK.

YSUPERVISORY sYsTEM FOR SPRIN LE -VALVES.

- specification ofLetters Patent. Patented Sept, 1915 'Applieationfiled February6,1Q15. Serial No. 6,441.

Be it knownethat'we, WILLIAM A. Roms and MGREA PARKER, citizens of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n'-'Super- .visory Systems for Sprinkler-Valves, of

which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to improvements in protective or supervisory apparatus for the valves of water service or sprinkler systems.

In systems of this character it is the usua practice to provide shut-off valves at various points in' the mains leading to different parts of a building, and safety requires that such 'valves be always open and the system in working condition.

and many of them require. that means he provided for ascertaining with certainty at all times the condition of the system in this respect. p

It is the main object of the present iniin tion, therefore,t0 provide means for indi-- eating at a central oilice thecondition. of;

every valve in the system, and for soundingv an alarm in case any valve is moved from its normal positionor the circuit, Wires broken or cut.

Another'object is to safeguard such asystem againstaccident by providing means for indicating to the attendant that the source of current/has failed, if such a contingency should arise.

To this end, we have devised a system op-f crating on a normally closed circuit, and .employing an improved combined relay and annunciator having a target movable by gravity to abnormalv position. We have also provided simple, rugged and efiicient circuit controllingdevices located at the valve to be protected, and governing the operation of said relays. a

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a gate valve showing our invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary central sec-- tion substantially on the line .22 of Fig.1,

Fire underwriters. recognize the possibility of these valvesbeing inadvertently left closed, or being closed or tamperedwith by unauthorized persons,v

. the termination of the threads.

plan view of .the contact supporting plate; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section thereof, subpartsbeing omittedfiF 3 is an enlarged I stantlally on 'thejline of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 I V is a ti ansverse section.thereoffop athe linq 55 of Fig. 3, parts being inelevation; Fig"? 6 isia transverse section on the line 66 of Fig. 1 Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7 -7 of Fig. 1'; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the improved combination relay andannunciator which'we employ; Fig. 9is an edge 55 view thereof, and, Fig. 10 is a diagram of the circuit connections employed in our improved svstem. iffi. A fRefer ringto the drawings-in. "detail, 1,

designates a portion of the casingof'a' gate valve suchv as is usually employdjiri'connection with sprinkler systems. -j' 2 indicates the usual yoke, and 3 the valve- 'stem, the outer endof which is threadedas.

indicated at 4, land works through the threaded hub 5r a hand wheel 5, by means of which the valve may be opened and closed. In order to provide the necessary'circuit eontrolling elements, we preferably form a stem, such slot extending somewhat beyond Into such slot is driven a strip 7 of insulating material, such .as fiber or hard rubber, such strip.

dove-tailed slot 6 along one side of the valve being forced inward to the inner limit of.85-

the slot and terminating a suitable distance from the end of the stem, A filler strip 7, of brass or the like, is then driven in so as to extend from the end of the hard rubber strip to the end of the valve stem. This brass strip and the greater portion of the strip of insulation is ofsuch thickness as to fill the slot to the level of the base of the threads, but at the inner'end the-insulating strip is brought gradually up flush with the surface preferably supported in a plate 8 ofinsulating material, secured to the yoke 2. The contacts may conveniently be formed of a pair of cylindrical barrels 9 and 10, passing through holes in the plate 8 and secured fingers proper,

2 y 1,153,5'zetherein by means of set screws 11 Contact mounted in the ends of the. barrels and-1Q, respectively, each of such fingers .b'emg'car- Tied by a plunger 13 fitting within a cylin drical pocket in the respective barrel and urged outwardby means of a helical spring 14. Each contact finger, such as 15, is of relatively thin, fiat formation and slides:

freely in a slot 12 formed in the end of each Lb'ar'rel. It will thus be seen that the contact fingers 15 and 16 are caused to bear against the valve stem with a resilient pressure, and

- are adaptedto ride along the groove 6, as the valve stem travels back and forth. Electrical connections are made with, the contacts 9 and 10 by means of binding screws I 17 and 1 8,, respectively.-

Referring to Figs. 8 and '9, the improved combination relay and annunciator will now be described. This instrument consists of 'a suitable base 20' of magnetic material, having at one'end a portion 21 extending at right angles to the base. To this flange 21 are secured a pair of electromagnets 22 and 23, having cores 22 and 23, respectively. It will be seen that these cores are in direct contact with theflange 21.

. An armature 24 extends in front of, both cores or pole pieces 22 and 23 and is pivotally supported by means of a leaf spring 25, upon a-lug 26 formed integral with the base. A second leaf spring 27 is secured to the armature, and a set screw 28. bears against this spring in such a manner asto regulate its tension. One of the springs 25 or 27 is extended to form a resilient contact 29, adapted to engage the point of a contact screw 30, whichis adjustably carried in a' second lug 31, supported by the base 20.

Thepoint of this contact screw 30 is preferably made of platinum or the like, to prevent corrosion. Binding screws are'provided by which circuit connections with the armature 24: and contact screw 30 can be independently made. It will be understood that thearmature 24, when the magnets 22 and 23 are de'nergized, normally rests in such a position as to establish contact between the spring 29 and screw 30, being urged to such position by the spring 25. When, however, either magnet 22 or 23 is energized,

the armature is drawn toward the magnets and, the connection between the spring 29 and screw 30 is broken.

Secured to the flange 21 and projecting forwardly therefrom is a bracket 32, formed of non-magnetic material. Pivoted at 36 to the end of this bracket is a permanently 'ma gnetized steel bar 35, carrying at one end a light vane, or target 37, servin as an indicator. Wings 33 and 3% extend from each side of the bracket 32 and form stops to engage the bar- 35 so as to limit its move ment about the pivott36. A counter-weight '15 1 and. 16are resiliently, I

,pojsition'as to extend to one side thereof,

. 38, preferably of non-magnetic material, is- Isecured to one endof the bar 35 in such a whereby the bar and target are biased to a definite position. This position is shown in full lines in Fig. 8 and it'is obvious that the target will be shifted by gravity to such ponary annunciator. Associated with this cabinet will be providedan electric bell or gong of any suitable character. A pair of wires will extend from each relay'to-some one of the valves which it is desired to protect, all vof said relays and the gong being operated from a common battery.

Fig. 10 diagrammatically represents an -installation in which two relays are employed, the same being electrically connected with two valve statiog s. The relays are indicated in their entirety by the reference letters a and b, and the respective valve stations by the letters A and B.

4.0. designates .,a battery or other suitable source'of current, one side of which is connected by means of a wire 39 with the pipe system, or other common return, A gong 48 is connected between the wire 39 and a common wire. 41, which extends to all of the relays and is connected to the contact screw 30 of each of them. A wire 4L2 extends from the other side of the battery to all of the relays, and is connected to one end of the windingof each of the magnet coils 22 and 23 thereof, said coils being so wound or connected as to generate magnetic fluxes in opposite directions. -\Vires 4:6 and 47 extend from the other side of said magnet coils, respectively, to contacts 9 and 10, mogtmted on the valve at station A, while similar wires 5L6 and 47 extend to like contacts 9, 10', on the valve at station B, etc. It will therefore be apparent that each of the magnet coils 22, 23, of each relay is in an independent circuit, one side of such circuit being formed by one of the wi-res,'suchl as *6, and the other side being completed through the ground connection or other common return.

The valve at station A in Fig. 10 is inclicatedlasopen, or in normal position. In such position, the contact-9 rests upon the valve stem 3, while the contact '10 rests upon the strip of insulation.- Current therefore assume the position shownin fullilines at (2V :in Fig. 10, .orin dotted lines in Fig, 8.; "Thesingle magnet winding 22, therefore, serves both to controlthe armature 24 and the an--",

that the many advantages of. such a system,

nunciator target 37. I In the upper part of Fig. 10, the relay 6 and valve station B are shown in the condi 'tion they assume when the valve has been partially closed. Under such conditions, the

valve stem occupies a position such as shown in Fig. 2, with both contacts 9 and 10 resting upon the insulated strip. The first movement of the valve stem from the normal closed, as is sometimes necessaryfor the purposes of testing or,repa1r,'the contact l0- rests upon the metalxstrip 7 ,thus closingthe circuit through magnet 23-,and causing the j gong circuit to'be opened by themovement of the armature24 away from the contact screw 30;. Theen'ergization of magnet 23 is in such. direction as" to tend to 'move the polarized bar and target 37 to the posi-f tionlshown in full lines in'Fig. 8,.but, as ex plained above, they have alreadybeen swung to such. position by gravity, and .coi12 3 serves only to maintain them in this position. 'This ,.indicates to the attendant that the valve'is closed. @The particular "object,- however, of the counterweight is to cause the target tomove to closed or.defect position in case of the failure of the source of current, orja break in thelcircuit-wires. Should thej'batteryfailffboth windings of all of the relays would, of course,become '-deenergized, but-thegong would not be sounded,- owing to-Ilack'; of cement; How-- ever, the targets on ,theqrelays would all move toEthe right, as shownjin fulln lines in r Fig. 8, thus indicating 'to ,the' attendant that there was some defect n the system If, on the other hand, oneorf both of the wires46 or 47, leading toany valvelstation," .should become broken, the-armature of the corresponding relay would be released; thus closing the gong circuit and giving an alarm,

while atthe same time, the target of that particular relay would be moved by gravity to its defect position, thus indicating to the attendant which particular valve circuit was out of order. v V 7 It will thus be seen that we have provided alsupervisory system operating'upon. the

closed circuit principle, thereby giving indi cation not only of the position of the valves, but also of the condition of the various clrcuits and source ofcurrent, and it is thought trically operated 'means for indicating I whether the same is open or closed, and

means for sounding an alarm whensaid valve occupies an. intermediate position.

2. The combination with a plurality of valves, of electrically operated means for indicating at a central station whether each val've 1s, open'or closed, and means for sounding an alarmjwhen any of said valves is moved tovan lntermediate position. 3. In a supervisory system for valves, the

combination with a valve stem, of circuit controllingdevices operated thereby, a relay having magnet windings governed by said circuit controlling devices, an alarm circuit controlled by said relay, and an indicating device associated with. said relay independent of said alarm circuit and responsive to the presence or absence relay, a valve, and means governedby said of current in the windings thereof... 4. In a supervisory system. for valves, a

valve for maintaining said re lay'energized so 1 long as saidvalve remains inveither its open or closed position, and. for causing the deenergization of said relay when said valve occup esfa'n lntermedia'te position, andv an alarm controlled by said-i relay.

5. .In\a'supervisory system for valves, an

alarm, afisircuit therefor, a relay serving when I energized to maintain said circuit open, a valve, and means governed by said valve for maintaining said relay energized so long as said. valve remainsin either its open or-closed position, and for causing the occupies an intermediate position, and means operating, upon the deenerg 'zation of said 'rel'ay,-to close said alarm circuit.

6. In a supervisory system for valves, the

combination with an alarm, of a'relay havtrolling devices therefor, said relayhaving a palr of separate electrog'magnetic bobbins,-

and a common armature operated in the denergization of said relay when the valve same direction by either of said bobbins, an

ling devices. r

. 8.-'-In asystem of the character described, the combination with an alarm, of a relay wholly controlling the same, said relay having two independent windings, and an indicator capable -of occupying either of two positions, and biased toward one position, said indicator being selectively shifted by the energization of one or the other of said windings.

9. In a system of the character described, the combination witha valve, of an electro-' magnetic annunciator capable of giving two distinct indications, a source of current, a pair of circuits, including said source, e X- tcnding from said valve to said annun-- ciator and controlling the latter, and means operated by the movement of said valve to open or closed position for respectively closing one or'the other of said circuits, and thus producing in said annunciator one or the other of said distinct indications corresame direction by the energization of either sponding with the position of the valve.

10. In a system of the character described,

the combination with an alarm, of a relay having an armature controlling the same, said relay having two independent windings arranged. to'generate magnetic fluxes 1n opposite directions, and an indicator independent of said armature capable ofoccupying either of two positions andbiased toward I one position, said indicator being selectively shifted by the flux set up by said windings.

11. In a system of the character described,

a relay having" two independent. windings arranged to generate magnetic fluxes in op- ,posite directions, an armature movable in the same direction bythe energization of either winding, analarm controlled by said' armature, and a polarized indicator associated with said windings and movable in reratus, of a pair of circuits for controll ng the same, said apparatus having windings part of which are included ineach of said circuits, anindicator operated by said Wind ings and-movable one way or the other by the selective energization of said circuits,

an independent alarm circuit, and an ar mature governing the same, said armature being also operated by said windings, and

movable in thesame direction by the energi- Zation of either of said control circuits 13. In a system of the characterdescribed, electro-magne-tic apparatus having windings,

a part of said windings being arranged to generate magnetic flux in one direction and another part in the opposite direction, a air of control circuits in which said parts 0 the windings are respectively included, a polarized indicator associated with said windings described,

and movable in response to'the direction of the flux set up thereby upon the selectiveenergization of said circuits, an alarm circuit, and an armature also associated .With the windingsand governing the said alarm circuit, said armature being movable in the of said control circuits.

. 14. In a-superviso ry system for valves, thecomb-ination with a non-rotary valve stem, of a strip of insulating material carried thereby, a pair of'contact fingers adapted to rest at times on said strip and at other times von the stem itself at each end of. said strip,

a relay, .circuit connections between said re- 

